NSC Student Abel Tesfaye Semifinalist for Cooke Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced that Abel Tesfaye of North Seattle College is among the semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Foundation named 485 semifinalists for the scholarship, which supports the nation’s top community college students with financial need seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree at four-year colleges or universities.
Selected from a pool of more than 1,300 applicants, this year’s semifinalists represent 224 community colleges across 37 states. Each was chosen through an evaluation process that assesses academic ability and achievement, perseverance, and leadership. The Foundation will announce the 2026 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars in May.
“Being named a semifinalist for the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a deeply meaningful honor for me,” said Tesfaye, a computer science student planning to transfer to the University of Washington. “Despite financial and immigration struggles, I am starting to experience the reality of a dream that I hold in my heart. The support from my instructors and North Seattle College has strengthened that purpose, inspiring me to give back to the community that helped me come this far in my journey.”
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship enables recipients to complete their bachelor’s degrees debt-free at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States and provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for two to three years. The award is designed to remove financial barriers so that high-achieving community college students can transfer to and thrive at the nation’s top institutions.
In 2025, North student Matias Saenz received the Cooke scholarship.
“Through the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation works to ensure that exceptional community college students have the opportunities to reach their full academic potential,” said Executive Director Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili. “This year’s semifinalists reflect the remarkable talent and ambition found in community colleges nationwide.”
The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends far beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers. Scholars also gain access to transformative opportunities including internships, study abroad experiences, and graduate school funding, as well as inclusion in a thriving community of more than 3,800 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni who provide mentorship and networking connections throughout their academic and professional lives.